Silly Lily: A Letter to Lily

Dear Lily,

The past few years living in California have been good to me, but one of the hardest things about living here is that most of your family lives on the East Coast, so you don’t get to see them too often.  I want you to grow up knowing who your family is, so it’s a challenge at times.  This past week, though, Dad has been on a photo shoot in Alaska, so Grandma flew out to spend a few days with us.  It was so nice to have a bona fide girls’ week.

You spent the time with Grandma showing off your teeth and your new skills, including standing on your own.  You’re all, “Oh, what, no hands?  No sweat!” and it’s very impressive to all around you.  You’re also quite an accomplished eater, and this was the first week we’ve sent you to school with finger foods.  It was a smash – literally.  Carrots went everywhere, but a good number made it into your mouth, so we’re coming out ahead.  For some reason you didn’t say much around Grandma – only “Mama” and “boom” but on the way home from school you had a blast testing out your screeching skills.

It was lovely to see you and Grandma having fun together, and it was sad to say goodbye to her.  But I think my favorite moment of the week so far was when you and I were alone together.  I picked you up from school today, and on the way home you started blowing kisses.  I blew kisses right back at you, and pretty soon we were smacking our lips and blowing raspberries and squealing and cracking each other up.  The whole time I was in the front seat and you were in the back, but despite not being able to see each other we could communicate.  I talk to you all the time, and you talk to me every now and then, but to play a whole game with just our voices was the coolest thing ever.

Later, after we got home and had dinner, we played in your bedroom.  You crawled behind your glider, and we played a squealing version of peekaboo, where I made funny sounds when I saw you.  I would pop my head in and out of your sight, and every time you saw me and I made noise, it made you laugh.  In the seconds when I didn’t say hi fast enough, you’d make the sound yourself, to initiate the game.

Wow, Lily, wow.  We’ve had this concept of back and forth play, but I feel like we really nailed it today.  And Lily, you are so, so funny.  I love that your sense of humor is developing every day.  I look forward to all the games we will play in the future, and to all the times you will look at me and know you are loved, without ever saying a word.

I love you,
Mommy

P.S.  See the leg in the picture?  That’s Grandma, and this picture is proof she was here.  We spent so much time having fun that we didn’t remember to take too many photos.  Oops!